How often have we been on our knees in a time of crisis, catastrophe, or other personal or family issue where it seems like there’s no where else to go or no one else to talk to? Have you been there? You’ve exhausted all other options, and it finally hits you - you haven’t prayed. You haven’t figured out what God wants… You feel lost, without direction, and somewhat alone. You know it’s been a while since you’ve prayed, but you’ve been fretting and worrying about this situation, and you’ve tried to think of everything you know to do, only to come up empty-handed… so you humble yourself and pray something like the below picture.

​Then you (actually, it would be “we”) expect God to answer right away - kind of like a text message you send, and you're staring at your phone waiting on an immediate response. When that response doesn’t come right away, you get frustrated and plead more with God to answer you; to guide you; to direct you. You want SO BADLY to hear His Words, His response to you, His guidance of you, and His love and grace for you!!!

Then… you have a thought. Maybe it’s from a godly counselor who tells you this, or it’s a Spirit-led thought that comes to you just before you’re ready to snap… and that thought looks something like the below picture.

​Ouch.

That bonded-leather bound book that’s collecting more dust than fingerprints is what you’re presented with. And that’s the correct answer.

SO OFTEN, we want a NEW word from God when we haven’t spent time listening to what He’s already told us. We haven’t dug deep and searched the Scriptures to see what’s in there that applies to us on a regular basis.

The bottom line is that we don’t want to look for the answer. In this commercial-driven society, we want it our way, right away. We don’t want to have to look for it, to earn it, to read it… we want our needs met by an easy answer.

Yet, God already answered us, and often times, we ignore what He said…

As a parent, I hear the same question worded ten different ways in hopes one of my kids will be able to get a different answer out of me… but I do my best to keep with the original answer.

So does God. He’s given us the answers to our questions. The answers that will calm our fears, reduce our anxiety, and relieve our over-charged minds from all the “what if’s” that we may be facing. But we need to actually take time to listen to His answers. There’s a peace that’s found when doing so.

Take some time and dig in. Start reading and studying the book of Philippians… then move to the Gospel of John. See how God answers you.